Can body soldering apparatus



NOV. 21, 1933. R LUTH] CAN BODY SOLDERING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10, 1929revcjrmv NToR BYVr/(W W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 21, 1933 PTENr OFFICE'1',985,e48 i oAN BODY soLDERING APrABA'rUs- A i Robert Luthi, Newark, N.J., assg'nor to American Can' Company, ,New of New Jersey York, N. Y., acorporation Application August 10, 1929. Serial No. 384.920 6 olaims.(C1. 113-605 The presents invention relates to a solderingapparatus ofthe solder'bath type andihas particular reference to such an apparatuswherein can bodies are conveyed along and in contact with an area ofmoltensolder.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of asoldering apparatus provided with improved means for supplying a properamount of molten solder-into a predetermined position for contact with acan body conveyed thereover.

A further important object of the invention is-the provision of animproved solder feed roller and scraper located in a solder bathinsuring the continuous transfer of a proper amount of molten solderfrom the solder vbath into a tank positioned therein.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a soldertank having means therein for restricting an area ofmolten solder forapplication to a can body and havingvan improved scraper for'operatingwith a feed rolier supplying molten ,solder to the restricted area inthe tank;

V Numerous other objects andadvantagesof the invention will be apparentas it is better under- Stood from the following description, which,taken in connection with the 'accompanying drawing, discloses` apreferred embodiment thereof. i

Referring to the drawingr- Figure 1 is a plan view, parts broken away,of a solder-bath, a solder horn carrying can bodies and associatedmechanisms embodying the pres- 1 ent invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken sub stantially along line2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fra'gmentary sectional view of a part of a can body arrangedona solder horn showing the application of solder to the side seamthereof.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a solder bath 21 formedWith supporting feet 22 mounted in any usual and preferred manner. Thesolder bath is adapted to contain solder 23 maintained in a moltencondition by application of heat from a suitable heat source such, forexample, as a gas burner 24 located preferably beneath the solder bath21.

A solder horn 25 extends above and in a lengitudinal position relativeto the solder bath 21 being supported in any proper manner. The solderhorn 25 is provided with a longitudnal groove 26 cut in its uppersurface in which moves a conveyor chain 27, of the usual link chaintype. The chain 27,15 adapted to convey can bodies 28 Ward edgeof whichengages a film of solder 38 .solder area 39.

along the solder horn 25 and over the'solder bath 21. When the operationof soldering applies lto a can body side seam 29, this seam ispositioned at the 'bottom and may move in a groove formed in'the underside of the horn 25'. f

A solder feed roller 31 is positioned within thebsolder bath`21 and ispartiaily submerged in the solder 23. Said roller 31 has a smooth outersurface and is mounted on a horizontal shaft 32 journaled for rotationin suitable bearings 33 formed in the endiwalls of thesolder bath 21,the shaft 32 being provided With stuing boxes 34 which form aliquid-tight joint between the bearing 33 and the shaft 32 and whichpermit the latter to rotate at the same Vtime preventing escape of thesolder 23 through the joint. Shaft 32 is rotated in proper synchronisinwith the travel of the conveyor chain 27 in any usual and preferredmanner, a-spur gear 35 being secured to one end of the shaft 32 for thispurpose'. 75

A 'solder tank`36 is mounted withinithe solder bath 21 and ispositioned' adjacent the solder roller 31 and is elevated above saidbath so that the solder in Vthe tank is acceissible by a cambody movingover the bath 21, the tankextending practically the length of the solderbathand being positioned directly beneath the solder horn 25. OneV sideWall of the tank 36 is outwardly projected in a circular form to providea scraper 37, the forcarried up by theiso'lder'feed Vroller'31 'as it isroi tated in counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2) within the solder 23.'This scraper 37 insures proper feeding of the solderl to the'tank 36and evenly w distributes the same vwithin the tank to form a Inasmuch asthe solder 23 within the solder bath 21 is maintained in a moltencondition by the heater element 24, roller 31 located in the solder islikewise maintained at a high temperature, this insuring the proper heatfor keeping the film of solder 38 fluid at the proper consistency forsoldering. As illustrated in Fig. 2, tank 36 is partially submerged inthe solder 23 and the heat f of the solder is thus transmitted byconduction to the tank 36 and to the solder 39 therein, this insuringthe proper fiuidity and consistency of the solder for'the solderingoperation.

Tank 36 is provided with a bridge member 41 which is an integral part ofthe tank being connected at intervals with one side wall thereof byvmeans of webs 40. This member 41 cooperates with the side wall of thetank 36 to enclose and provide a trough 42 setting off a zone ofquiescence for the solder. In height this bridge member 41 1-10 The canbody 28 passing over the solder horn is brought into position forsoldering, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Owing to capillary attraction, thesolder trough 42 has itsfsolder surface slightly elevated above theretaining walls of the tank 36 (Fig. 3) and this elevated surface isengaged by the can body conveyed along the horn 25 and solder is thusapplied to a side seam 29 or other suitable part of 'the can body.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill beunderstood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departingfrom theV spirit andiscope ofthe invention or sacriflcing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being u merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a soldering apparatus, in combination a tank for containing meltedsolder, a bridge member mounted within and at the surface of lsaid 35,tank and spaced away from the bottom of the i tank, and defining at oneside of the bridge member an elongated and elevated delivery surface ofsolder when the tank is filled with the same, and means for supplyingmelted solder to said tank 40,. at the other side of the bridge member,the solder so supplied passing under the bridge member to take the placeof solder'which is delivered from saidelongated surface. V2; In asoldering apparatus, in lcombination a 4,5. tank foricontaining meltedsolder,'a bridge member mounted within and at the surface of said tankand spaced away from the bottom of the tank, and defining atone side ofthe bridge member an elongated and elevated delivery surface 59. of.solderl when the tank is filled with the same, and means 'forsupplyingmelted solder to said tank at the other side of the bridgemember, the

providing that roller 31 is Operating. Normally' the passing can bodiesremove an amount of sol-V der equivalent to the solder fed into thetank, 36.--

solder so supplied passing under the bridge member to take the place ofsolder which is delivered from said elongated surface, said meanscomprising a solder bath enclosing said tank, a feed roller in saidbath, and a scraper bearing on said roller and leading to said tank.

3. In a soldering apparatus, a tank for containing'meltedsolder, abridge member arranged adjacent the open top of saidtank, and formingwithv the.wal1 of said tank an open bottom compartment, and adapted todefine at one side of Vthe'bridge member a narrow'and elongated surfaceof the solder when the tank is filled with the same, and means forconstantly supplying solder to. said tank at the other side of thebridge member, the melted solder having access to said narrow surface bypassing through the bottom of said compartment.

4. In a soldering apparatus, a tank within a tank, both'adapted tocontain molten solder, a smooth surfaced solder roll adapted to transfersolder from the outer tank to the inner, and. a bridge member withinsaid inner tank formin'g therewith a restricted compartment from whichsolder is adapted to be applied to a can bodyV moving over saidcompartmient, the'solder on both sides of the bridge 'being incommunication with each other under the bridge, and said bridge causingthe surface of the solder restricted thereby to elevate itself for readyapplication to the solder roll.

5. In a soldering apparatus, an outer tank, an inner' and elevated tankwithin said outer ,x tank, both tanks adapted to contain molten solder,a smooth 'surfaced solder roll adapted to transfer a film of solder fromVthe outer tank to the inner tank, a scraper associated with said innertank to' direct said film from said roll into said inne'r tank, andmeansfor dividing said inner tank into two open bottom compartments.` i

f 6. In a soldering apparatus, in combination, an elevated ltank for'containing melted solder, one' side of said tank having ai scraper andthe other side of the tank having a bridge separating a quiescentdelivery space for the solder from the' space into which the solderflows, the solder inboth spaces being a single .body with the solderunder the bridge, a feed roller for delivering solder to said scraper,and a solder bath enclosing said tank and roller, said roller having thegreater part of its surface immersed in said solder bath,

ROBERT LUTHI.

